Poems MSS / layout Miracles Keywords Poncelet Bibliography Search

View poem data

For the purposes of the new edition, every poem has been assigned a unique short title. The original short titles, taken eclectically from a number of sources, are retained as alternative short titles.
For new critical texts of the poems, return to the listing page and click on the poem number, or go to the archive of texts .
For epigraphs and layout information click on the appropriate manuscript location.
For information on Latin and vernacular sources of miracle stories follow the links to Miracles and collections. Follow the links to the appropriate pages of Todd McComb and Pierre Roberge's online discography, to the BITAGAP archive, and to linked entries in the Bibliography.
Home Page

Back to list
CSM Number : 121
Short name: The Knight who Made Garlands for the Virgin’s Image Alternative: Garlands for the Virgin
Incipit: De muitas maneiras busca/ a Virgen esperital
Refrain: De muitas maneiras busca/ a Virgen esperital/ carreiras en como guarde/ os seus de mort’ e de mal.
Summary of narrative
View Options: (Narrative Miniature Narrative & Miniature Miniature & Caption Narrative, Miniature & Both Captions )
Setting: Provence Protagonist(s): a knight

A knight vowed to make a garland of roses for the Virgin everyday. He promised that if he could not find enough roses, he would say an Ave Maria for each one lacking and thus complete the garland.

He did as he promised, commending himself to the Virgin and placing the garlands on her statue.

One day when he was riding through a valley, he encountered his enemies. They were riding fine horses, but he was on his old palfrey. He dismounted and, kneeling prayed to the Virgin.

Just as they were about to kill him, they saw him surrounded by a heavenly light. They also saw a maiden helping the knight make a garland of roses.

The men were powerless to harm the knight and decided to leave him alone. They realised that it would be a serious thing to “make war on the Mother of God.” They went away.

The knight was not aware of the vision, but was told what the Virgin had done. His love for the Virgin increased and he told of the miracle in many lands.

Metrical data
Stanza: 15 15 15 15 Refrain: 15 15
No. of Stanzas: 11
Rhyme scheme: AA | bbba Zejel: Yes
MS locations:
T121, E121
Poncelet reference
Dum quidam frater Cist. Ord. In via procederet in negotiis sui (381)
Keywords
Ave Maria (saying of), enemy (confrontation with), flower, garland, image (of Virgin Mary), knight, light (celestial), roses, vow
Discography
Click HERE for a list of recordings of this poem
Miracle Collection
Aves Seen as Roses Jean Mielot, Miracles de Nostre Dame
(Oxford, Bodleian, Douce MS 374)
BITAGAP ID
3838
Bibliography
Saint and Simulacra: Images of the Virgin in the Cantigas de Santa María of Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284)
Jackson, Deirdre Elizabeth